So much for the senior slide

North Hennepin Area Chamber awards five scholarships to busy students

By Paul Groessel

Sun POST Newspapers

The North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce awarded $500 scholarships to five students who showed commitment to community service, a theme that stuck out to chamber Executive Director Stephen Erickson.

Champlin Park High School senior Hannah Rorvick receives her certificate recognizing her North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce scholarship from NHACC Executive Director Stephen Erickson during a luncheon Thursday, April 10, at Cambria Suites in Maple Grove. (Sun Post staff photo by Paul Groessel)

The students are also busy. Some work while going to school, and all are involved in multiple organizations or volunteer. Some of the high school students are already taking college courses.

Hannah Rorvick, for instance, is ahead of the game, and with all of her areas of interest and general credits nearly out of the way at North Hennepin Community College, she will soon have to pick a course of study at the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities.

“I so far have taken courses from creative writing to biology and chemistry … so I’ve gotten sort of the vast spectrum of everything,” she said.

She knows that she ultimately wants to lead and teach people, she said.

She, and the other recipients, already lead and teach, and their desire to continue seemed a common thread. Four of the recipients are high school seniors and one is working on a master’s degree.

Kathyrn Doan is a senior at Park Center High School who works two jobs, is the captain of the tennis team, is active in various school organizations, volunteers and maintains high grades, according to biographical information provided by the chamber. She plans to attend the U of M in the fall, where she will begin her pursuits in becoming a chemical engineer.

Rorvick, a senior at Champlin Park High School, is taking classes at North Hennepin Community College and also plans to attend the U of M. She works 30 hours a week, is the captain of the cross country team and is also active in the community and in various groups. She has been on two mission trips and plays piano for Arbor Lakes Senior Living Center residents.

Malavika Suresh, a senior at Maple Grove High School, is taking classes at the U of M and aids stroke treatment researchers at a neuroscience laboratory. She is a member of the varsity debate and math teams, aside from her community work.

Tanner Wetzel is already operating his own lawn care service as an Osseo High School senior and is prepping for a science career, specifically doctorate in physics. He plays high school sports and is active in community-oriented outreach events through a church.

Tiffany Scoles was the scholarship recipient with the most education among the group. She is attending St. Cloud State University, where she is working on a master’s degree in applied clinical research. She hopes to work on leading technology in the medical device industry after graduating.

Denice Wojack from the chamber’s Business Education Partnership Committee presented the awards, and also in attendance was Charlene Briner Minnesota Department of Education’s chief of staff for Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.